The Exciting Sounds of Model Road Racing by Phantom Surfers, The - CD (9/10)

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This is probably only the second record ever made of instrumental surf music devoted to the hobby of slot car racing. The first was the 1965 classic, The Go Sound of the Slots by the Revells. As usual, the production quality is absolute crap but the schtick quality is top-notch. For the most part these are surf standards with slot car noises and the occasional slot car terminology vocal line. A handy glossary is provided in liner notes in case you don’t know what a turn marshall or flutter finger is.

Futuremuzik by Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra - CD (10/10)

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Peter Thomas’ arrangements live somewhere between the wacky space-age pop of Esquivel and the brassy action movie scores of John Barry. Here is a collection of his soundtrack music from various German television show from the 60s. I love the crazy sound effects and vocal instrumentation. This is some swinging stuff. A really great CD!

A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin (6/10)

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After the first three rousing volumes of the Song of Fire and Ice series, this book is a huge disappointment. I get that it’s really only half of book four in the series, but even if you set aside the fact that it focuses on way too much on new characters and points of view (as a reader, I  really only want to hear about the Stark kids and maybe Tyrion), the character arcs really don’t seem to go anywhere. I am assuming the book is more of a set up for future events and I may grow to care about the Martells and Ironmen. I may like this volume better when I’ve read the follow-up.